NTPC says tunnel one km away from town, 1.1 km below ground | Joshimath land sinking

Explaining its project has no role in the subsidence of the Joshimath in Uttarakhand, NTPC has informed the power ministry that the 12-kilometer long tunnel connected to the Tapovan Vishnugad hydroelectric project is 1 kilometers away from the town and at least a kilometer below the ground.

Experts are blaming NTPC project for gradual sinking of land as cracks developed in hundreds of houses and buildings in Joshimath.

On January 10, the Union Power Ministry summoned NTPC officials to review the subsidence incident in Joshimath. A day later, India's largest electricity-generating company wrote to the ministry explaining its position.

Stating that land subsidence in Joshimath is a very old issue with first observance dating back to 1976, NTPC citing a state government-appointed M C Mishra Committee of that year blaming "hill wash, natural angle of repose, cultivation area because of seepage and soil erosion" for the subsidence/cracks.

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